Dosanjh, Ujjal

1947 - Dosanjh was born into a politically active family in a small village in northern India on September 9th. Indian lawyer, civil rights activist, politician and premier of British Columbia.

1964 - Dosanjh immigrated to England at the age of 17, learning English while working at a variety of jobs.

- He went on to receive a BA in political science from Simon Fraser University and a law degree from the University of British Columbia. He became involved in civil rights issues during his student years.

1979 - Dosanjh's activism continued after he established a private law practice in Vancouver.

- Dosanjh ran unsuccessfully for the provincial New Democratic Party in the elections.

1985 - He publicly denounced those who advocated violence as a means of securing an independent Sikh homeland in India.

- He was then severely beaten outside his law office by a man wielding a metal bar, an attack that almost killed Dosanjh, who required 80 stitches to close the cuts on his head.

1991 - He won a seat in the legislature.

1995 - He entered the cabinet as Minister of Government Services.

- He was promoted to attorney-general, where he gained a reputation for a strong, measured approach to controversial issues, including the armed standoff between aboriginal people and the RCMP at Gustafsen Lake, and criminal allegations against the leader of his own government, Premier Glen Clark.

2000 - Elected leader of the provincial NDP, Dosanjh became premier, taking over from Clark, who had resigned amid accusations of improper involvement in a neighbor's casino license application.

2001 - He endeavored to distance himself from his predecessor, Dosanjh lost the election.

- He returned to the practice of law.

2004 - Dosanjh ran as a star candidate for the Liberal Party in the federal election, winning a seat in Parliament.

- Became a Canadian health minister.

2006 - Dosanjh played a leading role in the campaign in British Columbia, winning his own seat of Vancouver South and helping the party increase its support in the province.